AllFreeNovel
Share Us
37
AVERY
I returnfrom Wales to a different Bryn, one who sits up alone drinking, who is more distant than he’s ever been. On the second night of waking at three a.m. and hearing the TV on low in the lounge, I decide to confront him. Lack of communication spoiled things between us once before, I won’t let that happen again.
Bryn looks up as I walk into the room, his drawn features and dull eyes pronounced by lack of sleep. “I thought you were in bed.”
“I'm worried about you.” I hover in the doorway, unsure whether he wants me here— in the room or the apartment.
“I'm okay.”
“No, you're not.” I indicate the bottle of whisky and empty glass. “I’ve never seen you drink as much as you have the last couple of days. You’re constantly in a fog of alcohol. This isn’t you. Talk to me.”
Bryn ignores me and pisses me off when he pours himself another glass.
“Is it something I did?” I ask.
“No.”
“What then?”
Bryn shakes his head. “I can't talk about this. I'm not ready.”
“Has something happened?” My heart flips in panic. Hannah? “Is this about us?”
“I said, no,” he replies gruffly.
The silence between us is filled by quiet voices from the TV as Bryn gulps back the whisky. After a couple of minutes, I’m unsure he’s aware I’m still here.
“Avery, I will talk to you about this once I've got my head together and decided what to do,” he says without looking at me.
About us.
“Right.” I curl up on the sofa next to Bryn and attempt to touch him but he's stiff, muscles as tense against me as his words are.
He turns his lost eyes to meet mine. “I have to go away for a couple of days.”
“Away?” I ask attempting to keep my voice light.
“Yeah, Wales. Family thing.” He switches his attention to the TV.He’s lying. “Tomorrow. Then I might have to go away again for a little while. I haven't decided yet.”
“Band stuff?”
“Bryn stuff.” He looks around. “You’re at school so you probably can’t come, right?”
Each unspoken word behind his sentences squeezes the air from my lungs. He's not telling me anything but saying so much.I don't want you to come.I worried for weeks about starting my teaching training, but what I’m facing with Bryn eclipses any fear I’ve had.
“Yes. Where might you be going?”
“Australia.”
No.
Is Bryn stupid? Do men always forget when they've told you things? Like my last relationship, mistakes like this unravel the lies told.
He told me before, Hannah lives in Australia. What other reason would he have for going there?
“Right.” I shift away, swallowing down the words I want to throw at him, to confront his deceit, but this isn’t the time. He’s lost far in his own thoughts; I may as well not exist. “I'm going to bed.”
I don't think Bryn notices me leave the room.
